Trolling Etiquette??????

[wcalcaterra]

Let me ask a question! I have been doing a lot of fishing at the Old South Channel during the week, every time I go out there I troll with the current following the shipping channel. I have found myself getting very frustrated by some of the other boats out there fishing.

The past 3 times I have been out there I have been pushed out of the channel by other boats doing circles and zigzagging in the channel, this is really PI**ING me off (one guy in particular has been doing this every time I have been out). Last night I started to get into the eyes and I got so frustrated with 2 other boats out there I moved and didn’t catch a darn thing after the move.

Correct me if I am wrong, but in shouldn’t these guys be trolling either with the current or up the current, not sucking up the whole channel by circling the same spot or zigzagging across the whole channel????? They make it impossible to fish out there.

[Mark-n-Fish]

I understand your frustration. Some people do have boats that can turn tighter with only 1 person and do so sometimes cutting me off. I have also dealt with people longlining in the river and that makes it very difficult to manuver around. Then there are some times I have been handlining and some guy pulls up next to me where the shoreline is on my right and he is on my left leaving me no room to manuver. It's is unfortunate, but some people either don't know, they don't care and their only concern is ME ME ME. There is only one thing to do. RAMMING SPEED! (just kidding ;) )

[ted stehney]

Hey Mark maybe they come so close to you because you are such a likeable guy!! That is why if I make it out on the weekend I try to get out early or late if I know the area will have heavy traffic. Or I go where few fishermen travel. By the way sorry to cut you off Mark. LOL My boat is also an idiot magnet. The good thing is they are by me and out of my life in about one minute, so I can get back to fishing.

[wcalcaterra]

There were probably only 6-8 boats out there last night, it only takes one idiot to get in the way!

[Topshelf]

We all have the same problem it seems. I've taught my kid look around before raising a fish above the side of the boat because thats a major boat magnet. I can hear them right now saying "he just caught one, lets go over there" and then they pull up right next to you and drop lines.:mad:

Another one that drives me nuts is the guys in the 30 plus footers who want to run by you at half throttle throwing a 5 foot wake, 50 feet away from you.:rant: I usually give them the one finger salute as they run by.

[Mark-n-Fish]

Hey Mark maybe they come so close to you because you are such a likeable guy!! That is why if I make it out on the weekend I try to get out early or late if I know the area will have heavy traffic. Or I go where few fishermen travel. By the way sorry to cut you off Mark. LOL My boat is also an idiot magnet. The good thing is they are by me and out of my life in about one minute, so I can get back to fishing.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Mark-n-Fish]

I know this is the wrong forum but don't you just love it when you are ice fishing and catch a couple and some body sees you put them in the bucket. Next thing you know the guy wants you to move your foot so he can drill a hole with his power auger. I love it.

[Big Daddy Benelli]

That is one of the reason I NEVER want to troll again, if it ain't people like that it's pleasure boaters that don't have a clue!:rant:

[Whitetail70]

Just pee in the empty beer cans and throw it at them!:evil:

[wcalcaterra]

Am I correct that everyone should be trolling up and down the channel not sucking up the whole channel by zigzagging or chasing their tail??

At least I have something I can do with empties from Canada!!!

[FishTales]

Am I correct that everyone should be trolling up and down the channel not sucking up the whole channel by zigzagging or chasing their tail??

At least I have something I can do with empties from Canada!!!
I can hear the other guys saying, "don't he know how to troll, he just wants to go up and down the channel" :lol: :lol:
Just kidding, maybe if you don't give in so easy they will stay out of your way. Besides, they would be the ones getting in front of you.
Rich

[alex-v]

Correct me if I am wrong, but in shouldn’t these guys be trolling either with the current or up the current, ...
Maybe not. Maybe, just maybe, they are not fishing the same way you are. What about the handliners who troll upstream against the current? What about the handliners who zig-zag back and forth against the current? What about the guys pulling bottom bouncers working downstream? What about the people drifting downstream just pulling crawlers? What about guys chugging or jigging?

After all these years I have realized that there are many different ways of fishing from a boat in the rivers and channels and lakes. It so happens I like the method of fishing that I use and I have learned to understand what the other guy fishing is going to be doing or going next, probably better than he or she does. I know where my leaders are and where my lures are, even down at the bottom of the river 30 to 40 feet below. Best part is that am confident that I know where the other guys lure or lures are.

There still is plenty of room out there. Adapt and figure out their pattern and then beat them at their own game.

[roger23]

I troll what ever way it takes to catch fish.I always look at it this way it is a public water way. ;) I don't have to like what other people but it is there right . I don't get road rage on the highways. I fish for fun and just deal with it.

don't forget this part.
Boating Basics: On the Water
Safe navigation on Michigan waterways is everyone's responsibility. All operators are equally responsible for taking action necessary to avoid collisions.

Encountering Other Vessels
Even though no vessel has the "right-of-way" over another vessel, there are some rules that every operator should follow when encountering other vessels. It is the responsibility of both operators to take the action needed to avoid a collision. The navigation rules page shows what to do when you encounter another vessel.

To prevent collisions, every operator should follow the three basic rules of navigation.

Practice good seamanship.
Keep a sharp lookout.
Maintain a safe speed and distance.


Encountering Vessels with Limited Maneuverability
When operating a power-driven vessel, you must give way to:

Any vessel not under command, such as an anchored or disabled vessel
Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, such as a vessel towing another or laying cable, or one constrained by its draft, such as a large ship in a channel
A vessel engaged in commercial fishing
A sailboat under sail unless it is overtaking
When operating a vessel under sail, you must give way to:

Any vessel not under command
Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
A vessel engaged in commercial fishing

[alex-v]

I troll what ever way it takes to catch fish.I always look at it this way it is a public water way. ;) I don't have to like what other people but it is there right . I don't get road rage on the highways. I fish for fun and just deal with it.
What I said and dealing with it is is the true etiquette of being on the water.

[Houghton laker]

I know many times I'll work a area for my limit no bigger than a football field!! Working that current going back and forth....I always try to watch for other boaters...jiggers...trollers and vary my boat to accommodate them and there travels.........BUT....I know what your saying.....Like what mark says....your up against a bank going into 6 ft. of water....and someone pulls up next to you not letting you get back into deep water......I usually just circle around and try to avoid those people if possible.....or if close enough...try to tell them what they are doing....most don't mean to do it....the few that don't care....I simply don't vary my path....and they seem to move quickly to avoid me!!:evil:

[wcalcaterra]

What I said and dealing with it is is the true etiquette of being on the water.

I understand the rules of the water.

I understand that there are different methods of fishing, I understand this as good as anybody, I am not asking for everyone to head in the same direction as I am. However, when you zigzag covering the entire channel or circling in the channel you force anyone trying to fish the same area out. Also when doing either circling or zigzagging the rules of the road are constantly flipflopping.

There is not enough room for everyone to fish that area when you cover the enitre width of the channel. Because circling and zigzagging are working does not make it ok to block others trying to fish.

Help make it so everyone can have a good time and if you are going to circle or zigzag do it in an area that doesn’t interfere with a bunch of other people trying to enjoy the LSC fishing.

[baydog2]

I troll the Saginaw River for eyes all year long. I don't know how wide an area you are talking about but the Saginaw we just troll the opposite bank if somebody has the same side, both banks have good structure in certain spots. The best way to get them up here is to zigzag off of the channel breakline. Just about a month ago we had a guy and family trolling behind me with stickbaits come right up on me and ask how we were doing? I told him 4 keeper eyes on tots I don't usually have any problems with crowding when sharing info. So what does the guy do put tots on and start trolling next to me. At one point forcing me into shallower water than I liked but not too shallow to be concerned.:rant: Good thing is his bayliner could not get the speed down to what the eyes liked and trolled ahead of us while we still picked off 2 more eyes. :lol: When the Fiancee said she was impressed that I did not throw anything or vent at the guy more than under my breath. I told her the reason was we were there to relax and the day was a total success cause we had caught some fish already.:evil: Now the go fast boats and jet skiers are another story up here they get a few head shakes and if warrent a few choice words. :dizzy: :rant:

[MiketheElder]

Fishing the Cow Pasture this Spring, I know we made our share of dumb moves but some of these guys think they're out there by themselves.

50 boats going upstream in straight lines and one or two yahoos just have to try to angle against the current, weaving in and out of the pack. More than once we had to put it in neutral, get all our gear tangled up and then waste time rerigging.

And quit staring at your fishfinders! It's bad for your eyes. :SHOCKED: Look up and watch where you're going. My son and I are just as guilty of this as anyone but we're getting better.